Horsham CC have title belief - but Roffey are still top

At the Nevill Sports Ground, Horsham bowled out Brighton for 243, just three balls short of their 50-over allocation, and then timed their run chase to perfection, to win by three wickets from the last available ball of the match.

The 30-point win enabled Horsham to leapfrog beaten East Grinstead back into second, albeit by a single point, with Roffey 23 points clear at the top.

Oxley said: “It was easier batting first, but after having them 151-6 we should have kept them to under 200.

"It should never really have been that close – we had a bit of a wobble with the bat, and lost some cheap wickets, but Sam Bell saw us home again and we’re still very much in contention.

"We really believe that we could win the league, and we’re definitely going to give it our best shot.”

Brighton put on a 56-run opening partnership, then lost wickets at regular intervals, with Oxley taking 4-36, but 50s from Sam Topping and, at No8, Frankie Cripps, together with 41 from James Degg and 32 extras enabled Brighton to set a challenging target, despite two wickets apiece for Nick Cooper and Ben Lister.

Although Horsham lost an early wicket, at 75-1 they were well-placed, Elliot Cloy scoring 35, paving the way for 40s from Will Beer and Oxley and another 50 – containing eight fours – from teenager Ollie Haines.